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Epcot: What Not To Miss & Tips

I struggle with whether Epcot is my favorite place in WDW or the Magic Kingdom. Both places are wonderful! I can say that I spend more time at Epcot than I do at the Magic Kingdom but that could be because there is far more to see at Epcot. We normally spend at least two days exploring Epcot. And I can honestly say that every year we find something new. Not necessarily because Disney has added something new but, there are things you can overlook without meaning to. For that reason I will say that it’s important to take your time and try not to miss anything.

Ok, let’s get down to business. What are the “must see” things in Epcot? In my opinion there are three things that you have to do. I’m not going to tell you everything about the rides because it needs to be a unique experience for you. And if I told you everything about it, it wouldn’t be all that special for you. First, you have to do Soarin’. It’s the most amazing ride I have ever been on! This is a simulated hang-glider ride over portions of California. You’re going to love the sights, smells, and other sensations you get on this ride! Next there’s Test Track. This is a fairly fast-paced ride that simulates the tests a new car goes through while in development. Hang on tight for the surprise at the end of the ride! And last but certainly not least is Mission Space. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be in a spaceship during lift-off, this will satisfy your curiosity totally! I have to warn you though, pay attention to all the signs about motion sickness, back injuries, and all the other health condition warnings. They aren’t joking! If there is one ride in WDW that will make you sick, this is it! The good thing about this ride is there are two versions. The first is the Orange team. This is the full experience. Not for the faint at heart. The second is the Green Team. This is one that the whole family can enjoy without having to worry about getting sick. Not to go into too much detail but this ride uses a centrifuge to simulate space flight. That means it spins really fast. Enough said? You have to make the choice on this one.

Now, “must see” means long lines. So how do you get around waiting in long lines? Use the Fast Pass system. Outside the most popular rides there are stations where you can get a Fast Pass. They are free and a wonderful way to make sure you don’t stand in lines all day. All you have to do is place your park pass in the machine and it will give you a Fast Pass with two times on it. Come back between those times and you will walk to the front of the line where your wait will be cut down to practically nothing. The only catch is, you can only get one Fast Pass at a time. If it were me, I’d get a Fast Pass for Soarin’ as soon as I got to the park. That’s the most popular ride right now so the lines are generally very long. Then you can hop over to Test Track and Mission Space, get on those rides, then head back to Soarin’ to use your Fast Pass. I know what you’re thinking, “how come everyone doesn’t use a Fast Pass?” I wonder that myself as I walk to the front of the line passing the long line of people waiting to get on a ride. Of course there are limited numbers of Fast Passes for each ride per day but I have only witnessed them running out a couple of times and it was always at the end of the day.

Once you get the “must see” things out of the way, there’s more! You don’ want to miss Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Living With The Land, and especially if you have kids you can’t miss Turtle Talk with Crush. Oh! And you simply can’t miss the fireworks at Epcot. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. It is the most amazing display of fireworks you will ever see in your lifetime!

Now it’s time to take a stroll around the World Showcase and experience the sights, sounds, food, and more from the many different countries featured at Epcot. One thing you will notice is, the people working in the different countries are actually from those countries. It makes the experience even more amazing. Take your time going through each country. There is so much to see in each one that it’s hard to take it all in with one visit. That’s why we normally spend at least two days here. They all have their own presentations/rides to experience as well as shopping and other cultural experiences. Each country also has at least one restaurant to offer. My favorites are; San Angel Inn in Mexico, the Biergarten Restaurant in Germany (an amazing buffet!), the Rose and Crown Dining Room in England, and the Coral Reef Restaurant. It’s a good idea to make reservations at any of the restaurants in the World Showcase, they get very busy. For quick bites my favorites are the Electric Umbrella for sandwiches or La Cantina San Angel for fast food Mexican style. By the way, the cantina is a great place to get a seat for the fireworks.

Finally, Epcot normally has some special festival going on throughout the year. There is the International Flower and Garden Festival, the Food and Wine Festival, Holidays Around The World, and the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. For dates you can go to the Disney World site by clicking hereto get the exact dates.